[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Crisfield 7-9-1980
as Ord. No. 343. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The threat of an enemy attack; any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood,
high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, snowstorm, explosion or conflagration;
a riot or situation in which three or more persons contemporaneously, both
as to time and place, engaged in tumultuous conduct which tends to the commission
of unlawful acts which disturb the public peace or tends to precipitate the
unlawful destruction or damage of public or private property; or any other
catastrophe, natural disaster or civil disorder when public safety is imperiled.
During times of public emergency within the city and when public safety
is imperiled or upon reasonable apprehension of immediate danger thereof,
the Mayor may proclaim a state of emergency and designate the area involved
upon his own volition or upon the application of the Chief of Police, County
or City Health Officer, Chief of the Fire Department, County Civil Defense
Director, Sheriff, the county governing body or the Superintendent of the
Maryland State Police. Following such proclamation, the Mayor may promulgate
such reasonable orders, rules and regulations as he deems necessary to protect
life and property or to bring the emergency situation within the affected
area under control, after reasonable notice of such orders, rules and regulations
is given through the media serving the affected area or by circulating notices
or by posting signs at conspicuous places within the affected area. Such orders,
rules and regulations, by way of enumerated example rather than limitation,
may provide for the control of traffic, including public and private transportation,
within the affected area; designation of specific zones within the area in
which, under necessitous circumstances, the occupancy and use of buildings
and vehicles may be controlled; control of the movement of persons or vehicles
into, within or from these designated areas; control of places of amusement,
of assembly and of persons on public streets and thoroughfares; establishment
of curfews; control of the sale, transportation and use of alcoholic beverages
and liquors; control of the possession, sale, carrying and use of firearms
or other dangerous weapons and ammunition; and the control of the storage,
use and transportation of explosives or flammable materials or liquids deemed
to be dangerous to public safety, which shall include but not be limited to
Molotov cocktails. Such orders, rules and regulations shall be effective from
the time and in the manner prescribed in such orders, rules and regulations
and shall be made public prior to such time as provided herein. Such orders,
rules and regulations may be amended, modified or rescinded, in like manner,
from time to time by the Mayor throughout the duration of the emergency but,
in any event, shall cease to be in effect upon a declaration by the Mayor
that the emergency no longer exists.
The Mayor shall seek the concurrence of the City Council in a proclamation
of a state of emergency as soon as possible after the proclamation and in
no event later than seven days thereafter.
[Added 6-22-1983 by Ord. No. 374]
A violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor punishable by the
payment of a fine of $500 and imprisonment for a period not to exceed 89 days.
